THE VELVET TOILET: A Peculiar Treasure at the Museum of Romanticism


The Museum of Romanticism in Madrid, housed in a former private palace from 1776, immerses visitors in the art and culture of Spain's 19th century. While not one of Queen Isabel II's residences, the museum displays items from her era, offering a glimpse into the aesthetic and lifestyle of the Romantic period. 

A Mother's Love by Antonio Muñoz Degrain

Without cameras to document disasters as we do today, artists were the ones who captured the depth of human tragedy through their work. Romantic painter Antonio Muñoz Degrain created Mother’s Love to vividly pull at our heartstrings. Painted between 1912 and 1913, this sizable oil on canvas (204 x 160.5 cm) was donated by the artist himself to the Museum of Fine Arts in Valencia in 1913.

MADRID


Immerse yourself in a fascinating slideshow tour of Madrid's most iconic neoclassical landmarks. With Karla as your guide, explore the timeless beauty of Spain’s capital through its grand buildings and monuments. Discover the stories and royal inspirations behind these architectural treasures that continue to define Madrid today.

Inspirational Talk by Fine Arts Historian Karla Darocas, B. A (Hons)  (KarlaDarocas.com)

King Carlos III came to the Spanish crown after spending much of his adult life in Naples, Italy, and was therefore heavily influenced by the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. He carried out a series of urban reforms in Madrid, ranging from public lighting to the paving of the streets. These reforms of the capital also had an aesthetic significance. His aim was to bring the capital of Spain, Madrid, up to the aesthetic level of other European cities such as Paris or Saint Petersburg.


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GOYA KNEW THE SECRET TO THE WITCHES FLIGHT


Since Halloween and the Day of the Dead are very close to each other, who better to take up the theme of witches' flight than Francisco Goya. Traditionally, witches were believed to use a broom to move through the air and assist the coven in places far from their usual haunts. 

The women accused of witchcraft were women who took care of the home: wives, midwives, servants, etc. And what do these people have in common? A broom! It stands to reason that the broom was a representation of women and thus became the witches' tool. 

Goya, who knew the aspects of witchcraft well, captured the moment when an old witch initiates a young woman into these practises. But he also knew that it was not the broom that gave the witches their flying abilities. 

* Report by Karla Ingleton Darocas. Hons. B. A.  (KarlaDarocas.com)

Did You Know... Spain has a lot to do with the perceptions and fears that continue today about witches and their crafts?

 Yes, indeed it is true!

In 1610, the infamous "Quema de brujas en Logroño" (Burning of the Witches in Logroño) witch trials took place, and a local printer, Juan de Mongastón, published a pamphlet chronicling the events. This document detailed the trial and condemnation of 53 people accused of witchcraft, along with five skeletons and five effigies, creating a vivid picture of witchcraft and its supposed dangers.

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THE UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF GOYA'S MISSING SKULL

THE ENIGMA

Dionisio Fierros (1827-1894) was a Spanish Romantic painter who painted a “Vanitas”, an allegorical still life, for the Marquis of San Adrián of Navarre in 1849. 

It was not a very robust work of art, especially in an era of great romanticism and drama. 

It was a traditional "vanitas" with a skull, which was the most common symbol of the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death. It was a human skull, depicted in a three-quarter view, and it had no jaw. It rested on a green carpet. The skull had many dental defects. The colour used was a roasted yellow. 

It would have been a rather boring 44 x 37 cm oil painting on canvas if it had not had three words written in sepia ink on the back of the wooden frame: "Skull of Goya".

Report by Karla Ingleton Darocas (KarlaDarocas.com) (c) SpainLifestyle.com


The Conquest of Huesca" by Ulpiano Checa


This painting is quite large; unfortunately, I couldn't ascertain its exact dimensions. However, it proudly hangs high above the central courtyard of the Museum in Siguenza. You can view it directly from the second-floor gallery.

It depicts the Battle of Alcoraz, an armed encounter that took place on November 15, 1096, near Huesca, involving Aragonese and Pamplona troops on one side and Muslim troops from Zaragoza supported by Castilian forces on the other.

Museum of Antique Religious Art of Sigüenza-Guadalajara’s Diocese


The Museum of Antique Religious Art of Sigüenza-Guadalajara’s Diocese is located in a 16th-century neoclassical small palace known as "The Barrena's Old House," which belonged to the Gamboa family for four hundred years until 1923. (In the last century, it served as a hotel, a neighbor's house, and a branch of a bank.) 

Don Lorenzo Bericiartúa Valerdi, while serving as bishop of this diocese, purchased the building in 1956 with the intention of converting it into the Diocese's Museum. However, it was his successor, Don Laureano Castán Lacoma, supported by the nuncio Luigi Dadaglio, who officially inaugurated it on May 11th, 1968. Initially, the exhibition only occupied the ground floor of the building, but in 1972, it was extended to include the first floor. Currently, the museum occupies the entire building.

Presentation: 16th Century Spanish Renaissance - The Styles, Secrets & Scandals

In the 16th century, Spain reigned supreme, its influence spanning the globe through trade, exploration, and relentless colonization. This era, spearheaded by Emperor Carlos V, witnessed Spain amass vast wealth. Part of this fortune stemmed from his inheritance of the Habsburg Empire, but the true treasure trove lay in the newly conquered domains of South and Central America, Florida, Cuba, and the Philippines. The vastness of this empire rivaled even the likes of Ancient Rome or Alexander the Great's Macedonia. 

And fueling this unprecedented prosperity was a veritable deluge of gold and silver discovered in the Americas. This golden age spurred the creation of daring and innovative architectural styles. Driven by the ambitions and ideals of the era, these structures were often testaments to Spain's power and prestige. Yet, beneath the dazzling facades lingered secrets and scandals, hinting at the darker side of this meteoric rise.

Presentation
16th Century Spanish Renaissance - The Styles, Secrets & Scandals

  • When - Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
  • Time - 4pm
  • Where - Darocas Studio Benitachell
  • Fee - Donation
  • Talk & Slides presented
    by Karla Ingleton Darocas, BA. (Hons) 
REVIEW

"Having seen a large number of buildings of this era, 1500s and 1600s, it was enlightening to hear how the styles evolved and why. The explanations of the decoration and design of the buildings by the different architects has given me a better knowledge. The lecture was full of information and a real sense of that time. The lecture has prompted further research into various points mentioned for example... how saints are represented in art. I have said it before... I like Karla's natural everyday language when teaching. It makes the information easier to retain. I most definitely recommend Karla and SpainLifestyle.com to my friends".
 *Wendy Loxley - Javea